PEOPLE in Wales watch more TV and listen to more radio than anywhere else in the UK, it has been revealed.

In Wales, people average 4.5 hours a day in front of the box, compared to four hours for the UK as a whole, research for television regulator Ofcom has shown.

As well as the average television view, people in Wales spending an average of 3.3 hours a day listening to the radio, compared to a UK average of 3.2 hours.

More people in Wales also told Ofcom that they could not live without television, 61%, than in the rest of the UK where the equivalent figure was just 41%.

Health experts raised concerns that the length of time spent watching television was adding to the nation’s health problems.

National Obesity Forum spokesman Tam Fry said: “You’ve got a double whammy, not only are they sitting down watching TV for that length of time but there’s a real chance they’re snacking at the same time.

“If they would only give up half that period of time and limit it to around two hours and spent around two hours exercising then life would be much better.

“TV in this country can’t be worth four hours of viewing a day and the danger is, what are they doing while sitting there? Probably eating snacks.”

Yet broadcaster Roy Noble said that the Welsh figures were likely to be boosted by the high percentage of unemployed, ill and elderly people in Wales.

He said: “It’s probably because there’s more unemployment about and they’ve got more time.

“If people haven’t got commitments, they’ve got more time and you tend to switch on the TV for ready-made entertainment.

“The danger may be if they’re turning it on as an easy distraction (for children). If it’s selective and you’re careful as to what children watch (TV can be fine).”

On average 93% of the Welsh public listen to the radio every week and the average weekly listening was 23 hours and 18 minutes per person.

That compares to a UK average of 91% of people who listen to the radio and 22 hours and 18 minutes per person, according to Ofcom’s Communications Market Report for 2011. The report also shows there has been a sharp increase in the take-up of broadband services in Wales, with 71% of households now connected in comparison with 64% last year.

This rise has narrowed the gap between broadband take-up in Wales and the UK as a whole (74%).

Social networking sites are now used by almost half (48%) of adults in Wales. This is the fastest increase across all of the UK nations, with Wales now level with the UK average.

Unsurprisingly, broadband penetration is higher in Wales’ urban areas at 72% – an increase of 10% on 2009 – than it is in rural areas, where it is 67%.

Speaking ahead of today’s launch of the report at the National Eisteddfod in Wrexham, Rhodri Williams, Ofcom’s director in Wales, said: “Broadband has the capacity to change our lives, to make an enormous contribution to revitalising our economy and transforming our public services.

“It is good to see Wales making great inroads in the take-up of broadband. People are taking advantage of the broadband services and initiatives being made available to them.

“Ofcom is helping to drive this process forward by promoting competition and encouraging investment.

“This, coupled with financial assistance from the Welsh and UK governments, along with growing investment from telecoms companies, will ensure that citizens and consumers in Wales get the broadband services that they want.”

Broadband take-up in Wales is relatively low among those aged 55+ (48%), in DE social groups (55%) and in households with incomes less than £17,500 a year (56%). In comparison, take-up is high among households with children, where 83% have a broadband connection. Access to mobile broadband remained static compared with 2010 at 16% – the UK average is 17%.

Ofcom’s research also highlights that 62% of the radio listening hours in Wales were attributed to BBC services. Local commercial stations attracted a share of 26%, which was lower than in any of the other nations. The UK average is 32%.

Commercial radio revenue per head in Wales was also the lowest of all four nations and stands at £5.41, compared with the UK at £6.58.

In addition, people in Wales are less likely to own a DAB (digital audio broadcasting) set than the UK average. Just 27% of adults report that they have a DAB radio set – the lowest across the nations and 10% below the UK average of 37%.

Satellite TV remains the most widely used digital TV platform in Wales, according to the report, with take-up significantly higher than the UK average. Half (51%) of Welsh homes have satellite TV compared with the UK average of 40%.

Some 54% say that TV is their main source of local news, compared to 52% in the UK. Talking to people was mentioned by 15% – almost double the UK average of 8%.